Crane and extension bracket therefor



July 7, 1936. w. c" KENNEY CRANE AND EXTENSION BRACKET THEREFOR Filed Got. 11, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Z? Z6 IHIIIIFI'W lill lbzvl' llllallb mung fllforngy y 7, 1936- w. c. KENNEY 2,046,824

CRANE AND EXTENSION BRACKET THEREFOR Filed Oct. 11, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet -2 Ewan/T01 mlluuw alezuuzy Patented July 7, 1936 PATENT OFFICE CRANE AND William C. Kenney,

EXTENSION BRACKET THEREFOR Cranston, R. L, assignor to Kenney Manufacturing Company, Cranston, R. L, a corporation of Rhode Island Application October 11, 1934, Serial No. 747,960

11 Claims.

This invention relates to drapery hardware and particularly to a curtain fixture of the swinging crane type. These fixtures are pivotally mounted at either side of the window casing by means of attaching brackets. -Each crane carries a half curtain so that when the cranes are swung towards each other the window opening is thereby curtained.

Heretofore the attaching brackets have usually been fixed. This has prevented any adjustment of the crane arms bodily towards andaway from the window. With certain decorative treatments, it is desirable that the crane arms be so mounted as to be capable of a variable projection towards and away from the window, as for example where the decorative 7 treatment requires that a separate, and independent curtain rod and curtain be mounted in the space between the crane arms and the window itself. a

' Accordingly, my present invention in one important aspect contemplates an attaching bracket which will permita variable projection of the crane arm from the window opening, and at the same time will be strong enough to support the crane arm rigidly in any position of extension.

'The entire weight of the swinging crane arm, its decorative ornaments, and the attached drapery, isborne by such bracket, and inasmuch as this weight is applied at a single point and hence the strain is downward, it resultsthat the bracket tends to sag or bend at its point of connection with the crane arm. Inasmuch as such point of connection is also the hinge connection which enables the crane arm to swing horizontally t0- wards and away from the windowopening, it results that this point has usually beenthe-weakest point in the crane assembly. i

In, my invention, however, this weakness is eliminated, despite the fact that in my construction the bracket itself is adjustable'to permit the crane arm 'to be adjustedalimited distance towards and away from thewindow opening.

These and various otherfeatures of advantage and desirability which will appear more fully hereinafter are secured in the device of the present invention. 7 a

As illustrative of the principles involved, I show in the accompanying drawings a form of extension crane which I have found highly satis- A factory under actual service conditions and well adapted to the requirements of commercial manufacture. In the "drawings:-

Fig. 1 isa view of one form of extension crane in accordance withniy invention.

Fig. 21s a fragmentary perspective view there- 01'. a

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the extension bracket and associated parts.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross section through said bracket.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged 5-5 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 6 is a. detail view of the decorative ornament at the outer end of the crane shown in Fig. 1, and particularly illustrating the construction whereby the ornament itself becomes a part of the hinge connection between the crane arm and the attaching bracket.

My present crane fixture includes an extensible attaching bracket comprising a combination attaching base and slideway forming member ID and a slide ll slidable in the slideway of the member In.

The crane arm preferably but not necessarily comprises a pair of tubular arm sections l2 and I3, of any desired cross section adapted to telescope within-one another.

Such arm, whether telescopic or non-telescopic, is pivotally connected at its outer end with the attaching bracket by means of a hinge member M, which member where desired may be extended as a decorative ornament I 5 (see Figs. 1, 5 and 6) overlying the crane arm.

In order to carry out the decorative effect,'an ornament I6 is preferably mounted at or near the inner end of the crane arm, as by inserting the same partially into the inner end of said crane arm.

Referring to Fig. 2, the attachment ID of the extension bracket includes a relatively flat attaching base l1. Extending at right angles from said attaching base I! is a channeled slideway I8 formed by a continuous web I9, the longitudinal edges of which are inturned as a pair of spaced horizontally extending guide flanges (see Figs. 2 and 4) adapted to receive the top and'bottom edges of the slide H.

The slide bears against the web I9. The top and bottom edges of the slide fit within the flanges 20. Preferably, but not neecssarily, said flanges 20 are slightly beveled or tapered as indicated at 2| to give a close friction flt.

The adjustment of the slide in the slideway is permitted and held by a screw 22 extending horizontally from the web l9 and having its head disposed in a longitudinal slot 23 in the slide. II, the web l9 having a threaded boss 24 to receive the inner end of said screw.

Due to the taper fit of the parts the operation cross section on the line member of tightening the screw tends to wedge the slide and slideway together and thus eliminate any tendency of the bracket parts to wabble in use. Preferably although not necessarily the slide H is formed with one or more longitudinal bosses or bearing ribs which not only stiffen it but prevent the slide from becoming bent and distorted and thusdestroying the wedging action of the taper-fitted parts.

At its inner end, the slide H is formed as a pair of spaced horizontally disposed pintle ears 26 which are pierced as at 21 to receive a rivet 28 or other headed fastening. The space between said ears 26 accommodates the cylindrical vertically disposed portion 29 at the outer end of the hinge member T4; The portion 29 is apertured to receive the fastening 28.

The inner end of the hinge member I4 is formed as a plug 30 adapted to be inserted into the outer end'of the crane arm. Where the crane arm consists of two telescopic members i2 and t3, the plug-30 is insertedxzinto the outer end of the outer member [2. v Between its ends, the .;hinge member l4 is provided with a restraining formation comprisingra pair of spaced shoulders 3.|= and 32 and. an included groove 33. Within said groove is, lodged a curtain suspension loop or ring 34. (:See Fig. -l.) The shoulder32 also functions as a limiting stop to limit the penetration of the .plug 30 into the adjacent end of the crane arm [2.

Where desired and as shown in Figs. 1 and 6, the hinge member 44 may be extended upwardly as a decorative ornament l5 which overlies the upper edge of thearm section l2, being provided at its inner end with aguide icon 36 -(see Fig. 5) through which the crane arm is .inserted when assembling the fixture. Suchguide loop steadies theassembly and restrains the ornament Ii .from wobbling-relative to the crane .arm. I

The inner end of the crane arm may and .preferably does also carry a decorative ornament Hi. This is frictionally inserted within the inner end of the outer rod member 13 by means of a plug portion-38. 1 1

Between said plug and the ornament proper, the insert is formed, as a 2100p "or :ring retainer for a curtain suspensionloop or ring .39. Such .retainer includes a pair of spaced shoulders 40 and 4| -separated by a groove 42, similar to the shoulders-3l and32 andggroove 33 of the hinge member I4. The suspension loop lies within the groove 42 and is restrained against accidental dislodgment therefrom by said shoulders '40 .and 4] Additionally, the shoulder '40 .functions as a limiting stop .to limit the penetration of the ,plug part-of the'ornament into said iarmsection 13.

Thus the loops :39 and 34 are 'fixedly anchored at the inner vandouterfl-endsof the crane Farm thereby maintaining the suspended half curtain or other drapery ID .tautinsany and all positions of the crane arm. The drapery D is suspended between said fixed suspension points 38 and '34 by other loops or rings 43 "loose1ly slidable along the crane arm.

Although]: describe my crane arm as consistingot 'a pair of telescopic armsections these are only illustrative and the arm may be a solid or non-telescoping *rnember. Similarly with the decorations at the out erand inner ends of the crane.'- These have been described as of the insert type. Obviou's1y, 'of course, they maybe mounted otherwise. Or the decoration l 5 at the outer end of the crane arm may be entirely omitted. Similarly, the loop restraining formations 3|, 32, 33 or 40, 4|, 42 or either of them may be entirely omitted, if this feature is not desired.

Various other modifications in construction and assembly may obviously be resorted to within the spirit and scope of my invention as defined '.by the appended claims.

What I therefore claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

l. A drapery fixture of the swinging arm type, comprising a pair of telescopic arm sections slidable one within the other and constituting an extensible crane arm, an extensible attaching bracket including a fixed member and a member slidable relative thereto, and a hinge connection one end of which is insertable in one of said arm sections and the other end of which is pivotally connected with the slidable member of said extensible bracket.

12. Afixture as claimed in claim 1 wherein said slidable member of the bracket includes a pair of spaced ears and wherein said hinge connection includes a portion adapted to be pivotally fas- 25 tened between said ears.

3. A fixture as claimed in claim 1 wherein said l'iinge connection includes a plug portion adapted to be inserted into the outer end of one of 'said telescopic arm sections. 4. A fixtureas claimed in claim 1 wherein said hinge connection includes 'a plug portion adapted to be inserted into the outer end of one of said telescopic arm sections and a portion adapted to be pivotally fastened to said slidable member of the bracket.

5. A fixture as claimed in claim 1 wherein-said hinge connection has at one end thereof a plug portion adapted to be inserted into one end of one of said telescopic arm sections and has at its opposite end a portion adapted to be pivotally fastened to 'said slidable member of the bracket.

"6. A'fixture-as claimed in claim 1 wherein'said hinge connection has at one end thereof a plug portion adapted to be inserted into one end of one of said'telescopic arm sections and has at its opposite end a portion adapted to be "pivotally fastened to said slidable member of the bracket and wherein said hinge connection intermediate of its 'ends has a retaining formation for retaining a curtain suspension element against accidental sliding movementalong said hinge connection.

"7. Anextensible bracket for supporting a'crane of the swinging arm type, comprising an attaching'member having an attaching base and a web extending at right angles therefrom, said web having its longitudinal edges inturned as spaced guide fiangesconstituting with said 'web a channeled slideway, a slide adjustable in said 'slideway and having'its'in-ner end formed for pivotal connection with the crane arm, said slide having a longitudinally extending slot, and a headed fastening'flxed t'o'said web with its head disposed in said slot for permitting and holding the adjustmentof :said slide in said :slideway.

8. A bracket as claimed in claim 57 wherein the inner end .of said slide beyond the inner end of said slideway is formed as :a pair of spaced horizontallyextendingears.

9. (A drapery fixture of the swinging arm type, comprising a crane arm, an extensible bracketincluding an attachingibase anda web extending at right .angles therefrom and having its longitudinal edges'inturned as spaced guide flanges constituting with said slide a channeled slideway,

slide adjustable in said slideway and having its inner end formed as a pair of spaced ears, and a hinge connection having one end formed as a portion adapted to be pivotally fastened in the space between said ears and having its opposite end formed for mounting engagement with said crane arm.

10. A fixture as claimed in claim 9 wherein said hinge connection between its ends is formed as a retainer for retaining a curtain suspension element against longitudinally sliding movement along said hinge connection.

11. A drapery fixture of the swinging arm type, comprising a crane arm, an extensible bracket comprising a fixed member and a slidable member for pivotally supporting said arm at its outer end, a hinge connection between said crane arm and the slidable member of said bracket, said hinge connection including a formation for retaining a curtain suspension element against 1ongitudinal sliding movement along said hinge connection, a mounting for a decorative ornament at the inner end of said crane arm, said mounting including a formation for retaining a curtain suspension element against longitudinal sliding movement along said mounting elements, and a. curtain suspension element disposed in each of said retaining formations and adapted to suspend a curtain from said crane arm.

WILLIAM C. KENNEY. 

